Stocking-knitting machine antiraveling.



G. P. BOSWORTH. STDCKING KNITTING MACHINE, ANTIRAVEUNG.

l APPLICATION HLED AUGASI, |9l4. 1,296,750. Patented Mar. 11.1919.

4 lSHEETS-SHEE 2.

/ n fig,

G. P. BOSWORTH.

STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE, ANTIRAVEUNG.

APPLICATION flLEu AUG.31.1914.

1,296,750. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEE 3.

G. P. BUSWURYH.

. STOCKING Kwmmc MAcHfNE. ANTIRAVELING.

APPUCAUON HLED AUG.3I. |914.

VPatented Mar. 11, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. BOSWORTH, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEMPHILL MANUFACTURING CO., OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

To all 'who/m it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BoswoR'rH, citizen of lthe United States, residing at Central Falls, county of Providence, Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stocking-Knitting Machines, Antiraveling, of which the following is ai specification.

One object of my invention is to provide;

teniber 7, 1909, is not limited to its applica tion to a` machine of this make.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- `ignre 1 1s a developed view of the needle cams, and the needles and jacks.

Fig. 2 illustrates long and short butt needles and aV jack, a set of each of which is em loyed in this machine.

ig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine with the parts set for performin ordinary plain knitting, this view being di ferent from Fig 1 in this respect in that in Fig. 1 the cams are set to make the special.

course to prevent raveling.

F ig.y 4 is a diagrammatic view showing one of the cams with the connections for automatically adjusting the same and the connections for controlling the yarn feed.

Fig. 5 is a erspective view of the needle lifting cam w lich is active during heel and toe work.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic developed view of the canis and needles showing another form of ny invention in whichthe jacks are omitted.

Fig. 7 shows the needles used in this inodilioation. v

Fig. 8 is a view of part of n needle cylinder with a needle cani and one of the long tail needles which cooperate therewith.,

Fig. 9 is a view of thelstocking.

Speeication ol' Letters Patent.

STOCKING-KNITTING MACHINE, ANTIRAVELING.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application led August 31, 1914. Serial No. 859,492.

Fig. 10 Shows :t iinn'llilrutiiill. Fig. 11 1s e detail. Referring Figs. l in 1i inclusive:

In the drawings 1 is the needle cylinder which rotates in the direction of the arrow. The needles are in two sets, one set of long butts a and one set of short butts b, each set occupying one-half oi' the needle circle. Narrowing picks are shown at Q, widening picks at 3, stitch. cams at 4, i', upper` guard cam at 5, lower central guard cum 5', instep cam at 6, and instep lowering cam at 6', all as in ordinary practice in the Ina` chines of the Banner type.

In knitting a stocking on my machine the garter top and the upper part of the leg are made in the ordinary way to the point at, or above the calf of the leg at which it is desired to stop raveling should this occur, so that if raveling starts above this point it will be stopped here and prevented from going below this' point.

In order to provide n course of knitting at the desired point to arrest-or sto-p reveling, I employ a cam arrangement which will divide the needles. allowing every other necdle throughout the needle circle to knit while the other needles are retracted to a low plane and prevented from taking yarn on this round, these last mentioned needles simply holding their stitches during this round, after which these needles are brought into work again and knitting of the ordinary fabric is continued on all the needles to form vthe stocking in the usual way.

For controlling the needles to make this non-raveling course I divide them just before they reach the thread feed so that only every other needle will rise to take the thread. For this purpose l provide n lowering cam '7 which is shii'tnble radially in relation to the needle cylinder, and when this is in its innermost position it lies close to the needle cylinder so that lall the needles will be lowered from theirl normal plane, as indicated by the knitting wave at c, Fig. l. For this purpose the cam ring 8 is cut down at 9 so that the needle butts may travel down this incline on the under side of the cam 7. The normal plane of `the needle butts is indicated at (I. l also provide the cam ring 8 with a pivoted section at 10, this being the portion which, by its inclined edge its incllne 11 in the path of the needles.

As shown in Fig. 3, the main body of the cam is inclined in relation to the needle circle, presenting a side at 13x which extends at an inclination to the cam ring S. The pivot 12 is at the outer end of the cam and out4 beyond the ram ring 8 and needle butt circle.

The movement of the cam inwardly is limited by a tongue or projection 14 at the point of the cani fitting in a recess in the ram ring, the under side of the tongue being inclined inwardly and upwardly, and the recess in the cani ring beingl formed to coi'- respond. This construction not only provides a stop, but it also provides a flush joint between the point of the cam and the horizontal upper edge of the cani ring for the. -nnobstructed passage of the needle butts thereover.

Cooperating with the needles are the jacks 15. These have one length of butts. They are placed under every other needle, in the slots of the cylinder., throughout the entire needle circ-le. These butts-slide in a cam groove 16 in the plate 16. This cam groove has a l\ shaped portion 17 adjacent the piv oted section 10 of the cam ring. The action of the parts is as follows: Supposing the pointfhas been reached in the knitting where it is desired to make the non-raveling course. The inclined radially movable cam is adjusted inwardly one step while the short butt needles are passingr it, it being understood that normally this cam is set out beyond the path of the long butts. Nhen thc cam is moved inwardly one step it comes against the end faces of the short butt needles and in this position it engages over and lowers the long butt needles when they come around, and owing to the short butts having passed the cam, said cam will take another step inward and will now lower these short butt needles When they come around, and thus all the needles throughout the circle will be lowered by the cam 7 to a point where they would pass the thread feeder A without taking thread. Every other needle, however, throughout the whole needle circle after being lowered asjnst described is immediately elevated again toits normal plane e and this is done by the jacks riding up the cam groove 17 and pushing the needles up, these jacks, as before stated, being under every other needle only. Those needles which are not raised from their retracted position by jacks simply hold their old loops and pass the thread feeder A without taking thread.

These retired needles pass their butts through the idle needle pathway 18 below the cam set 4, 4', 5 and 5. All the needles, when lowered by the cam 7, can pass the cam section 10 which, being pivoted as above described, is turned aside by the pressure from the needle butts acting against its side 13)t which, as above mentioned, is inclined to the path of said butts. The position of this cam section, when thrown aside, is indicated in Fig. 3 in dotted lines. Those alternate needles which are raised by jacks are thereby restored to normal plane and thus they are in position to bc further elevated to take the yarn by the-advancing incline 4*.

The pivoted cam 1() does not perform any function in the above described action. The outwardly swinging movement which it is given is to remove it from obstructing the free travel onward of the lowered needles, and those which are being raised by the cam groove 17. This cam only acts to elevate needles during reciprocating knitting for making the heel and toe. `Therefore, it will be understood that its pivotal mounting is merely for the purpose of allowing it to be pushed aside so that the retired needles and those which have been retired and are now being elevated may pass by it.

It will be observed that in making this non-raveling course alternate needles are operated to knit and the other needles are held retired to miss knitting on this run. These latter needles hold their loops unt-il on the next round they again receive the yarn from the feeder A, and then they cast oli'.

In removing the cam 7 from operation it is withdrawn step by step. lts first outward step takes place, while it' is in engagement with` the long butt needles for the second time, it requiring one and a half revolutions of the cylinder to complete the operations above described. though it will be under stood that a number of the described nonraveling courses maybe knit if desired.

This {ii-st step movement is sutiicient to positionl the cani 7 out of line with the short butt needles when they come around, which then remain in normal plane to he advanced by cam 4 for regular knitting` and having remained in this one step position while the long butt needles are passing it. the cam takes another step movement outward as soon as the long butt needles have passed and while the short butt needles are passing the cam unaffected thereby. Its second step movement carries the cam out of the path of the long butt needles, which new. together with the short butt needles. remain in their normal plane for ordinary haii i ing.

The radially movable cam l is operated inwardly by a spring 19, the said cani hav- 'tracting the cam the pattern wheel is moved ing a shank portion 20 sliding in a bracket 21 secured to the machine frame. The cam is retracted outwardly or away from the.- path of the needle butts by a lever 22 bearing on a pin 23 secured to the shank, said lever being connected by a rod 24 with a lever 25 pivoted to the frame 'at 26 and having its end bearing upon the pattern wheel 27 .secured to the pattern drum shaft 8 of the Hemphill patent. These connections are under tension of a spring 28 which is stronger than the spring 19 and when free to exert its force will overcome the tension of the spring 19 and keep the` cam 7 retracted radially outward.

For setting the cam inwardly the pattern wheel 27 has a long projection 29 which lifts the levers 25 and 22 and allows he spring 19 to act in forcing the cam radia ly inward. The projection 29 is high enou h to remove the lever 22 far enough from t c pin to allow the cam movement suilicient to carry it up to the cylinder. Its inward movement, however, is step by step, because it first hits against the end faces of the short butt needles, but as soon as these have passed and the long butts begin to ride under the cam then the spring 19 will complete the inward movement of the cam to get into the path of the short butt needles. In reone step sufiicient to cause the lever 25 to drop ofi' of the long pattern projection 29 andrto fall onto the shoulder 30. This allows the spring 28 to retract the cam 7 one step, overcoming in this action the force of the spring 19. The pattern wheel now takes another step in the arrow direction and allows the lever 25 to drop oil' of the shoulder '30, and this ermits the spring 2,8 to move the cam 7 al the way out to lie outside the path of all the needle butts, the lever 25 now resting on the periphery of the pattern wheel.

From the above it will be seen that the cycle of operations respecting the cam 7 is as follows: It is moved in, while the short butt needles are passing it and consequently moves in one step, its movement being limrited by `coming against the end face of the short butts. Then the long butts begin to ride under it, the short butts having passed and no longer obstructing the inward movenient of the cam, said cam, under its spring tension, moves all the way in. It remains in long enough to lower all the needles, acting to lower the long butt half circle first and then the short butt half circle. Now, in order to restore the cam to its outward position, it will be seen that it can not'be moved outwardly until after all the short butt needles have passed the cam and have been lowered. Beforeall the short butts have passed the cam 7, however, some of the long butts have started under thc cam and have been lowered so that it is now neoessar to lower all of these long butt needles, ot erwise they would strike the cam 4 and cause a smash up. The cam, however, is withdrawn half way out so that it will be in position to lower all the lon butts, but will be out of the path of the s ort butts, and when these come around they will remain up in normal plane. As soon as all the long butts have passed the cam it is given another outward step movement so as to get out of the path of these long butts when they come around again. This completes the cycle.

Instead of employing jacks for the needles I-ma use as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 needles aving long tails 31, these being alternated throughout the whole needle circle with needles of ordinary construction, z'. e., without these tail ortions.

Coperating wit these lon -tail needles 85 is the cam 17* on the inner si e of the cam ring 8". The needle guide walls of the cylinder are cut away to pass this cam, as shown in Fig. 8.

This cam raises every other needle, z'. e., all the long-tail needles so that the same result is secured as in the case of the jacks above described, that is to say, the needles are divided, every alternate needle rising to take the yarn while the other needles remain down and hold their loops and pam the 'feeder without taking yarn. The other parts of the mechanism remain the same as that first described including the radially movable `cam 7 and the pivotally mounted 100 cam 10.

My machine organized as above described is also adapted to drop oil' the fabric automatically and to start automatically the production of the next stocking. In doing 105 this it issimply necessary to throw the yarn out of work by raising the thread finger A as is well known to knitters, and allow the fabric to run off. The thread is then ut in work againby lowering the yarn i e and 110 the cam 7 is adjusted automatical y inward to divide the needles so that alternate needles will first take the yarn as a foundation or starting course, the other needles remaining dow and the yarn being floated 115 by them on tie. inside due to the action of the web holders. On the next course all the needles rise to take the yarn and the formation of stitches then proceeds in the ordinary way. Web holders coperate'with the 120 needles as in ordinary'practice, the main difference' from ordinary practice being that in starting the formation of the fabric the yarn is fed to alternate elevated needles first on one run, the other needle remaining 125 down, .and then to all the needles on the next run, all the needles being advanced on this run.

With my construction and o eration as above described the latches wil be uto- 130 matically opened before the needles arrive at the thread feeding point, thus insuring that they will take the yarn. This result is due to the retiring of all the needles by means of the cam 7 just prior to their arrival at the feeding point. After the yarn has been raised from the needles` and the fabric has been dropped, the em ity needles will down beneath the cam i, this having been adjusted in to start the new fabric as above described, and as the needle butts reach the horizontal surface 'of the cam ring the impact of said butts against said surface subjects the needle to a 'ar sutiieient to open any latch which may e closed when the needle reaches this point. This result will be aided or supplemented also by the action of the jacks in Fig. l. and of the cam 17l in Figs. G, 7 and 8 giving the needles their upward movement, the q ick impulse serving to throw any latches town which may be closed or partially closed.

Referring to the relative arrangements of the controllingr blocks on the pattern drum for operating the yarn feed and the radially movable cam 7 for dividing the needles for makin r the starting course, l show diagrammatica ly in Fig. l the yarn finger A down in feeding position. This yarn finger is controlled by a lever 32 as in the ordinary Banner machine, pivoted at 33 and having its rear arm 34 connected by a, link 34* to a lifting lever pivoted at 36 and arranged to lift the yarn finger when a block 371m the drum comes beneath the lever, all as in ordinary practice. This block 37 moves in unison with the blocks 29", 30X, being carried by the same drum. The relation between the blocks 37 and 2W, 30 and the levers32 and Q5 is such that the lever 32 is lifted first, resulting in withdrawing the yarn from the needles by liftingr the yarn finger A and immediately after the work has been run off the needles due to thus lifting the yarn finger, the lever 32 falls off the block 37 and places the yarn in work again by lowering the yarn finger A to the position shown in Fog. 4. This takes place before the block 29 comes under the lever 25. Immediately after the yarn is in work again, however, the said block 29* comes beneath the lever Q5, raising it, and thus turning the lever 22 hito position to allow the spring 19 to move the cam 7 radially inward, with the result that all the needles are retired by the cam 7; their latches are opened by impact of their butts against the horizontal surface of the cani ring, and then alternate needles are elevated either by the lacks or the long tails, so that a starting course of yarn will be laid against these needles, and by the action of the web holders the yarn will sunk, positioning it so that when the other needles rise the yarn will be on the inside of the same and thus the formation of stitches will be started.

The cam 7 is withdrawn outwardly to permit all the needles to rise after one and a half revolutionshave been made rby the lever falling off the block 29* onto the step or shoulder 30* and then from this shoulder onto the periphery of the cam wheel.

In the form shown in Fi 4 the pattern drum of the invention is s own with two projections Q9* and 29 each having a step therein for stepping outwardly the dividing cam 7. The first projection 29* is for making the Startin course as above explained after the fa ric has been run ott'. The second projection is for forming the anti-runback Course as above explained. I have however provided, as shown in Fig. l() an arrangement which will malte a nlurality of successive startin courses so tlhat if a needle or several nee( es fail to take the yarn on the first round, said needle or needles will take the yarn on the next round and thus the absence of drop stitches will be insured.

This will' he referred to more at length later on in this description.

ln the form first described, it required a step movement of the pattern drum for each outward or retracting step movement of the cam 7, and these step movements were effected by the spring- 28 coperating with the step projections 29* and *29. This' step movement of the attern drum uses up the pattern drum sur ace and therefore in the form shown in Fig. 10 I provide means whereby the step movement of the cam '7 in retracting to its outward position is not derived from any movement of the pattern drum in coperation with a spring such as 28 but is derived through )ositivelv operating mechanism which acts wliile the said pattern drum is at rest. For the latter purpose the lever 25 is lowered step by step independently of any movement of thc pattern drum. This lever as in the form shown in Fig. Jr draws the cam 7 back ste a by step through the rod 24 and lever 22, t 1e spring 2S being omitted. The mechanism for. doing this consists of a lever 38 pivoted at 39 to the frame andonnected by a link 4() with the lever 25. The lever 38 is operated ste i by step by an arm 41 on the shaft` 4-2 of tlie gear seg.,- ment i" well known in the Hemphill machine, said segment being the member which recip rocates the needle cylinder during heel and toe work through arinv a part of 'which is shown at i on t 1e shaft s. This segment during round knitting continues its oscillation, but idly, because the gearing driven thereby is unclutched from the knitting head durin round knitting all as explained in the Hemp iill patent. Its movement is utilized, however, to positively operate the lever 25 through the arm 41, lever f1.8 and link 40,

For this purpose the lever 38 has two step abutments or shoulders 43, 44 against which the arm 41 works on its movement from left to right in Fig. 10. By striking the first abutment 43 the lever 38 1s operated to lower the lever 25 one step to retract the cam 7 out of the path of the short butt needles and by the arm 41 continuing its movement after acting against shoulder 43 and striking the second abutment 44, the second downward movement is given to the lever 25 to retract the cam ont of the path of the long butt needle. There is a dwell however, between the first and second step movements at which dwell the long butt needles are passing the cam 7 as above explained. This dwell is due to the space 45 existing between the first and second abutments 43 and 44 and while the end of the arm 41 is traversing this space the cam 7 is at rest and half way retracted. When the arm 41 strikes the second abut# ment 44 the lever 25 is moved down to the full limit of its movement and the cam 7 is thereby retracted out of the path of the long butt needles, and it will be observed that both of these movements of retracting the cam 7 away from the needlel butts take place while the pattern drum is at rest so that none of its pattern surface is used up. This movement takes place as the gear segment is moving from right to left, Fig. 10

and while the pawls z" and h connected thereto are performing the retracting or idle stroke; these nuvls act respectively upon the ratchets c and. e of the Hemphill patent and they act on the forward stroke of the gear segment z'. e. to the right in Fig. l0. The pawl i* acts each time to turn the ratchet wheel c one step and this moves the pattern chain B one step' i' or each forward movement of the segment. The pawl its however which acts on the ratchet e of the attern drum 27 is controlled tomiss the said) ratchet at times and 4to engage the' same at other times by a controller h.. This controller in turn is controlled by lugs or blocks on the pattern chain B, such lugs or blocks being indicated at 1", 2". The controller has a projection (dotted lines) at h* extendingifrom lts lateral face, said projection riding on the lugs of the pattern chain and thus the said controller is lifted. The controller has a tail portion h7 on which the pawl h is adapted to ride when said tail portionis lifted and when the pawl hf rides thereon it will miss' the teeth of the ratchet e and therefore the pat-tern drum will not be given a forward step. The controller is pressed by a sprlng a. The controller in Fig. 10 is shown as havin just fallen oil' ofthe lug lfof the pattern c ain. The pawl h8 is at the forward limit of its stroke havinV just finished giving the pattern drum a orward ste movement,fthe tail piece of the controller as been its next forward Stroke will miss the next tooth in the ratchet and the pattern drum will not be moved until another lu on the pattern chain comes to the controler and lifts it. For convenience only a few of the patternlugs are shown and only a portion of the pattern chain.

The projections on the pattern drum are shown at .29, 29b and 29. These act on the lever 25 and raise it to permit the spring 19 to force the cam 7 inwardly to make the starting course or the anti-raveling course. The two projections 29 and 29 are the ones employed for making a plurality of starting courses, two in the instance shown. While the rejection 29c is the one employed for making the anti-raveling course. When in the revolution of the pattern drum inthe direction of the arrow Fig. 10 the projection 29a raises the lever 25 for the starting course, the cam 7 is set in step by step'by the spring 19 as above explained and the starting course is made. The same forward movement of the drum under the action of the pawl )t8 and ratchet which causes the projection 29a to raise the lever 25 as just mentioned moves the projection slightly past the lever as shown in Fig. 10 in connection with the 'second projection. This leaves the Vprojection in such position that the lever 25 can be returned step by step to normal low position by() the positively operating mechanism as a ve explained.

After one starting course has been made by the projection 29 and the lever 25 `has been returned together with cam 7 this action is repeated 'by the second proection 29' and the parts are shown in Fig. 1 after theV second action has been ina rated the lever 25 being up due to the lifting action of the projection 29b and the projection being now beyond the end of the lever so that this is free to be moved down step by step by the lever 38, arm 41, and shoulders 43, 44. The projection 29 later comes into action for the non-raveling course. The lug 1; on the pattern'chain is long enough to hold trlieooigp.A trolier It out lof operationso that the pawl' ha can act successively in turningthe ru to bring first the lug 29 intoiwtionl and their the lug or projection 29". A friction device of an suitable character may be used'to restrain the operation of the movement of the lever 38. This mayeonsist of a spring 46 adjusted by. a screw 47 pa,ssingthroug lof;

the slot 48 in the lever 38 into the frame of the machine. i

When the lever 25 is operated by either of the lugs to. move thefrod 24 and thus allow the spring 19 to act, the lotion device will 'retain the lever and Ain their moved position. Because of this the pattern drum in makingA its moveinent. may

carry its projection or other operating mem.- ber past the end of the lever, the lever will not fall but must be restored to normal position by the positively operating mechanism actuated by the quadrant and segment i".

An organization similar to that disclosed herein is also shown in my application NQ- 858953, filed August 25th, 1914. e

I claim as my invention 1. In a stocking knitting machine 'and in combination, needles, stitch cam means, a restoring cam on each side of said stitch cam means for raising the needletonormal plane, one of said restorin cams being movably mounted to allow nee les to pass when raised from retired position, means in advance of said movable restoring cam for retiring the needles from normal plane while holding their loops, and means for raising alternate needles after bein f retired for clearing their loops below their atches and for taking the yarn, said movable restoring cam moving aside for this action of raisin alternate retired needles, the other retire needles assing on in retired position without ta ing yarn or casting their loops while the alternat'ely raised needles are retracted to cast their loops, substantially as described.

2. In a stocking knitting machine and in combination, needles, stitch cam means, a restoring cam on each side of said stitch cam means for raising the needles to normal plane, one of said restoring cams being movably mounted toallow retired needles to pass, means in advance of the said movably mounted restoring cam for retiring the needles from normal plane while holding their loops, and means for raising alternate needles after being retired to be advanced for clearing their loops below theirlatches and for taking the yarn, said movabl mounted Arestoring cam moving aside for t e passage of the said alternate needles when advanced from retired position, the other retired needles passing the stitch cani means in retired position without casting their loops, the movement of said movable restoring cani resulting from the pressure from the advancing alternate needles, substantially as described.

In combination in a stocking knitting machine, needles, stitch cam means, needle restoring cams one on each side of said stitch cam means, one of said restoring cams being radially movable to allow the passage of needles which are being advanced from rctircd position, a needle retiring cam in advance of the said movable restoring cani with iin-ans for moving said retiring cani at iiincs to opci'alivc position io retire all thc nccdlcs, and mcans for raising alternato iiccdlcs lo bc advanced for taking the val'ii whilc thc other retired nccdlcs pa` the stitch cani incaiis` in said i-ctiicd positiln and hold their loops, snbstai'itially as described.,

`for retiring the needles, and means for raisin alternate needles after being retired, for ta ing the yarn, said movably mounted restoring cam moving aside for the passage of these alternate advancing needles, the other 'retired needles passing the stitch cam means in retired osition without taking yarn or casting their ioo s, said movable restoring cam being pivota ly mounted to swing radially, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a stocking machine, needles, stitch cam means, restoring cams, one on each side of the stitch cam means to raise the needles to normal plane, one of said restoring cams being pivotally mounted and extending with a part of its inner side at an inclination to the path of the needle butts, and a needle retiring cam in advancev of the movable restoring cam with means for automatically adjusting said cam to and from operative position, and means for raising alternate retired needles to take the yarn, said pivotally mounted restoring cam moving aside by pressure `from the alternate needles,

when advanced from retired position, slib stantially as described.

6. In combination in a stocking knitting machine, needles, stitch cams having a path below the same tor the needles, means for dividing the needles as they approach the stitch cam consisting of a needle retiring cam for retiring all the needles and means for advancing alternate retired needles to take the yarn, a movable needle restoring cam, and a yarn feed timed to be thrown into operative position to feed the advanced alternate needles first and then all the needles.

7. In combination in a stocking knitting machine, a yarn feed, means for automatically operating the same to place the yarn into and ont of work, stitch cams, a needle retiring cam, in ,advance of the stitch ams to retire all of the needles and having a Contact surface at the lower end oi' thc saine against which all tlfe needles will strike and thereby open their latches, means iol' operating thc said cam to retire thc needles empty after tht` varii feed has been moved ont of work` and means for then advancing alternate retired empty needles to take the yarn. substantially as described.

S. ln combination in a stocking knitting machinc, iiecdlcs, stitch cam means for performing round 'or reciprocating knitting, said stitch cam means having aneedle path below the same for retired needles, a needle retiring cam in advance of the said cam set for retiring all of the needles below their normal plane and means for advancing alternate retired needles to knit while the other retired. needles pass the yarn feed without taking yarn and without casting'` their stitches.

9. In combination, in a knitting machine, a needle cam operating step by step, to and from its innermost position, a pattern drum, connections operated by said pattern drum for operating the needle cam, means for operating the pattern drum having forward and backward movement and operating said drum on its forward movement, said means on its backward movement retracting said cani step by step while the pattern drum is at rest, substantially as described.

10. In combination in a knitting machine, a pattern drum having a projection thereon, a needle cam, connections operated by the said projection for controlling the needle cam, means for operating the drum step by step, and in one step movement to carry the projection first into connection with and then past said connections and means for then retracting the said connections while the dru-m remains at rest, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a knitting machine, a needle cam` long and short butt needles, a spring for setting the cam inwardly step by step to operate the needles, a pattern drum or member, a connection between the drum and the needle cam for holding it retracted against its spring pressure, said drum having a rjection to operate said connection and al ow the spring to act, means for operating the drum step by step and in one step movement to carry said projection 4first into contact with and then past said connection 'and positively operating means operating while the pattern drum is at rest for returning the'said connection step by step to normal position, substantially as described.

12. In'combination in a knitting machine,`

a needle cam, a pattern drum having adprojection thereon, a connection operate by said projection for controlling the needle cam, an oscillating segment, pawl and ratchet mechanism between the same and the pattern drum for operating it step by step and means operated from said oscillating segment for retracting the saidl connection step by step While the pattern drinn4 is at rest.

13. InF combination in a knitting machine, a needle cam, a pattern drum having a projection thereon, a connection operated by said projection for controlling .the needle cam, an oscillating segment, pawl and ratchet mechanism between the same and the pattern drum`for o erating it step by step and means operates from said oscillating 'ting, a restoring' cam on cach side f segment for retrait-.ting the* said connection step b v step while the pattern drum is at rest, said means including the arm on thc segment and the lever having the stepped shoulders, substantially as described.

14. In combination in a knitting machine, a needle cam, a pattern drum, connections operated by the pattern drum for setting the cam in operative position, a member having stepped shoulders for operating the said connections step by step back to hor-- mal position and means for operating said member while the pattern drum is at rest. substantially as described.

15. In. combination in a knitting machine, a needle cam, a pattern drum, connections operated by the pattern drum for setting the needle cam in operative position, an oscillating segment, pavvl and ratchet mechanisin operated by the segment on its movement in one direction for turning the pattern drum, and means operating on the backward movement of the segment for returning the said connections to normal position substantially as described.

16. In a stocking knitting machine and in combination, needles, a cam set including a pair of stitch and a pair of advancing cams for performing round or reciprocatin( sai cam set for raising the needles to nfrrrnal plane. one of said restoring cams` being movably mounted to allow the nia-r1. to pass, means for retiring the needle;` 'it said movable. cam from normal plane whos holding their loops and means for raising alternate needles after being retired tc be advanced for clearing their loops below their latches and for taking the yarn, the other needles which had been retired passin the said cam set Without castin loops whi e the said alternate raised need es are retracted to cast their loops, substantially as described.

17, In a stocking knitting machine and in combination, needles, a cam set including a pair of stitch and a pair of advancing cams for performing round or reciprocating knitting,- a restoring cani on each side of said cam set for raising the needles to normal plane, one of said restoring cams being movably mounted to allow the needles to pass, means for retiring the needles at said movable cam from normal planewhile holding their loops and means for raising alternate needles after being retired to be advanced for clearing theiigioops below their latches and for taking the yarn, the other needles which had been retired passing the said cam set Without casting loops while the said alternate raised needles are retracted to cast their loops, said movable restorin cam being moved aside by pressure rom the needles.

18. In a stocking knitting machine, in combination, needles, stitch and advancing cams, restoring cams for raising the needles to normal plane, one of said restoring cams being movably mounted to allow the needles to pass, means for retiring the needles at said movable cam and means for raising alternate needles after being retired to be advanced for taking the yarn, the other needles 10 which had been retired passing the needle cam without casting stitches, said movable restoring com being pivot-ally mounted to swing radially.

In testimony whereof I nilix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE P, BUSWORTH.

fitnessen Enrrn M. BROMLEY, Joux LAwsoN, 

